Pavel Datsyuk Injured; Ken Holland Counting on Him to ‘Do the Right Thing’ at Sochi Games

Pavel Datsyuk did not practice with his Russian teammates on Monday at the Sochi Winter Olympics, an indication that he’s still less than 100 percent — Datsyuk missed more than a month of action for the Detroit Red Wings with a lower-body injury.

What’s that all mean for Datsyuk and Team Russia, as well as for the Red Wings once the Olympics are over?

Gregg Krupa of the Detroit News reported that Wings (and Team Canada) GM Ken Holland confirmed that Datsyuk has a lingering injury that will force him to “rest when he can”. Datsyuk is still expected to play in the Games, with Russia’s first preliminary round game set for Thursday against Slovakia.
NHL.com’s Dan Rosen offered a little more insight into the Datsyuk situation:

Holland said he trusts that Datsyuk will do the right thing, and only Datsyuk knows what that is because only Datsyuk knows how he feels.

The only injured Red Wing to withdraw from the Games was Sweden’s Johan Franzen, who has been dealing with post-concussion symptoms. The Wings entered the Olympic break in eighth place in the hotly-contested Eastern Conference playoff race, barely clinging to that final spot and six points back of both Montreal and Toronto in the division.

They definitely need Datsyuk as close to 100 percent as possible for the stretch run, which begins at the tail end of this month. Whether or not he’ll be able to get there while also playing for Team Russia is cause for concern.